SOAP LAKE — A major fire east of Soap Lake on Tuesday prompted Grant County Emergency Management to issue a Level 3 evacuation order for residents living along Road D.5 Northeast south of state Route 28 and north of Road 20 Northeast, according to an announcement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

The notice, which was issued at 2:47 p.m. and modified an hour later to expand the evacuation area, means that local residents were asked to leave the area immediately and without delay.

GCSO Spokesman Kyle Foreman said the fire started at about 12:30 p.m., encompassed both sides of SR-28 between Soap Lake and Stratford near Adrian Road, and put roughly 51 structures at risk. Foreman, who estimated the fire at around 300 acres, said fire agencies from across Grant County were responding to the Soap Lake blaze because a number of brush fires across the county aggravated by Tuesday’s heat and wind were keeping firefighters busy.

“With all the resources that are committed, we’re hopeful to have a handle on the fire,” Foreman said.

Also around 2 p.m., the GCSO issued an alert notifying the public that North Frontage Road along I-90 between Hiawatha Road and Division Road was closed in response to a wildfire. As of late Tuesday, Foreman said, firefighters were mopping that fire up.

In addition, Foreman said an evacuation order was issued to a handful of residents as a result of a 300-acre brush fire along Road 14 Northwest north of Quincy. By 5 p.m., Foreman said, fire crews were also mopping up that fire.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.